A nonprofit data transparency group released details of more than 40,000 US Department of Homeland Security employees, including names, phone numbers and email addresses, in a third major government data leak this month. The breach follows recent breaches involving the FBI and the Defense Department.
The data, obtained by an entity calling itself 'Department of Peace,' includes information on employees from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and other DHS agencies. The leak also revealed job titles and email groups, highlighting roles in surveillance, undercover operations and computer forensics.
Distributed Denial of Secrets co-founder Emma Best said the leak provides 'FOIA material for years to come' and aims to 'replace anonymity with accountability.' The group developed a search tool to help the public sift through the data, aiding journalists and congressional oversight.
The Department of Peace did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but in a statement included with the data said DHS employees 'have our information, so it's only fair that we have theirs' and that it hoped the data 'can be used to limit further harm by the DHS and supports all efforts in that direction.'